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Animal License Canvassing Efforts in Unincorporated Area of Rowland Heights

Officers from the Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) will be in the unincorporated areas in the vicinity of Rowland Heights checking for current rabies vaccinations, ensuring residents are in compliance with licensing requirements as well as the mandatory spay/neuter and microchip ordinance. California State law requires that all dogs and cats over the age of four months be vaccinated against rabies and be licensed. Securing a dog or cat license is an important part of identification and can assist animal control agencies if your pet becomes lost.

Pet owners are advised to be in compliance with licensing and the mandatory spay/neuter and microchip ordinance if they reside in any unincorporated area of Los Angeles County (or contract city that has adopted the County’s ordinance). Residents not in compliance will be subject to license fees and delinquency charges, including a $40 field enforcement fee, to offset the cost of the Department’s field services. In order to avoid penalties, be sure to license your pet. You can secure a new animal license by printing the application online at http://animalcare.lacounty.gov, or visiting your local County animal care center. If your license is not delinquent, you can also renew it through the Internet.

DACC offers low cost vaccination clinics and low cost assistance (for individuals who qualify) for spay and neuter surgeries. Please visit our website http://animalcare.lacounty.gov or stop by your local County animal care center for more information about these services.

For more information about DACC, find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/CountyofLosAngelesAnimalCare, or follow us on Twitter @LACoAnimalCare.

Laying out the welcome mat for the film industry

With the presidential campaign in full swing, we have heard a lot of debate recently about business versus government and who creates jobs.  For my part, you know how much I support small businesses because we know that two-thirds of new jobs created are the result of small entrepreneurs.

Here in Los Angeles County, many of those small businesses are dependent on the entertainment industry.  When most people think of the industry, they think of the big names, like Disney, Warner, Fox, Universal… and those companies are absolutely critical to our region.  But we must also recognize the small companies whose lifeblood depends on the success of this industry.  In all, we must focus on protecting the more than 140,000 people who are directly employed by the film industry – and the estimated 375,000 jobs that also depend on the production of films and television in our region.

Other cities in the U.S. and around the world see the $30 billion that the industry spends in the Southern California region – and you bet they want a piece of it!  By 2010, over 40 states and numerous countries around the world offered film incentives to compete aggressively for this business.  As a result, the percentage of movies shot in California has gone from over 66% to less than 40% in a few short years.  We, on the other hand, seem to be doing everything we can to dis-incentivize the industry from staying close to home.

Late last month, I put forth a motion to the Board of Supervisors to review our film policies across the County and consider revisions that align with the new Model Film Ordinance of the California Film Commission.  Currently, the industry sees a mishmash of regulations and fees that can vary dramatically from one community to its neighbor.  To attract this business, we must have a uniform set of policies and procedures, and a streamlined permitting process across the County and its 88 cities.

We cannot take for granted our position as the center of the entertainment industry and its importance to the economic well-being of this region.  We must put out the welcome mat for filmmakers and the people who are the film industry – our neighbors and friends, so that we retain our coveted spot as the entertainment and arts capital of the world.

Knabe Calls for Review of County’s Military Leave Policy

On a motion by Supervisor Don Knabe at today’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Los Angeles County will review its current military leave policy for County employees to ensure they do not lose any opportunities or seniority while on deployment. Currently, in order to protect reservists and their families from loss of income and benefit coverage during deployment, the County makes up the difference, if any, between a reservist’s military pay and their County pay for up to 720 days.

“Our Country has been at war for over a decade, and many of our nearly 100,000 County employees have been deployed across the world to protect our freedoms,” said Supervisor Knabe. “This is our way of ensuring that those serving our Country do not miss out on promotional opportunities and their families do not lose benefits such as health insurance and income. County employees deployed on active duty must maintain the same rights and privileges as any other non-deployed County employee.”

The Chief Executive Officer will review the County’s current policy and report back within 60 days. Pending the receipt of recommendations, the Board can vote to suspend the current 720-day limit policy. The Chief Executive Officer will also report back on options to ensure that County Employees receive their seniority rights and privileges as well as report on efforts to develop a County-Wide Military Leave Coordinator.

Knabe Calls for Revisions to County’s Film Policies

On a motion by Supervisor Don Knabe at today’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Los Angeles County will review its current board policies and consider revisions in accordance with the recently revised California Film Commission’s Model Film Ordinance, which protects more than 6,600 local businesses and hundreds of thousands of jobs.

“As a job creator and tourism generator, the film industry is vital to the economic well-being of Los Angeles County and our 88 cities,” said Supervisor Knabe. “The world’s view that Los Angeles is Hollywood – the mecca of film and television – is critical to attracting visitors and boosting the local economy. We cannot take for granted our position as the center of the entertainment industry.”

In May, the California Film Commission adopted a revised statewide Model Film Ordinance and Best Practices based on extensive stakeholder outreach together with Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), FilmL.A., and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC).  The purpose of a standardized statewide ordinance was to provide the entertainment industry with a uniform set of policies and procedures to secure on-location production that will streamline the permitting process and send a clear signal that this is a coveted industry California intends to retain.

According to the LAEDC, the entertainment industry accounts for 176,700 jobs and $30 billion in spending in the Southern California region and is the third largest industry in Los Angeles County, behind international trade and tourism.

Gourmet Food Trucks Coming to Marina del Rey

Gourmet food trucks will be stopping in     Marina del Rey on Thursday evenings throughout the summer, offering such delectable dishes as lobster rolls, Yucatan pork tacos, Indian lamb frankies, Vietnamese bahn mi sandwiches, bacon cheeseburgers and red velvet cupcakes – plus a chance to picnic on the beach.

The weekly “Beach Eats” gourmet food truck events will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. beginning Thursday, July 26, at Marina “Mother’s” Beach at 4101 Admiralty Way in Marina del Rey.  The first Beach Eats event will feature an assortment of popular trucks, including Nom Nom, Border Grill, Baby’s Badass Burgers, Cousins Maine Lobster, India Jones and Sprinkles Cupcakes’ Sprinklesmobile. The assortment of trucks will vary week to week.

“This is a rare opportunity for visitors to enjoy a gourmet meal in a casual setting directly on the beach on lovely summer nights,” said Gary Jones, Deputy Director of the Department of Beaches and Harbors. “The variety of gourmet trucks should offer something for everyone.”

Marina Beach offers food truck visitors picnic tables in addition to a sandy shore suitable for a picnic spread.

Paid parking is available at the beach lot for 25 cents for every 15 minutes.  Food truck patrons also may take the WaterBus from six Marina locations directly to and from Marina Beach for $1 each way from 5 p.m. to midnight on July 26, August 9, and August 23 – the same night as the Classical Thursdays summer concert series at nearby Burton Chace Park. Also available on those three nights is the free, land-based Beach Shuttle, which will operate from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information on the summer Beach Eats events, including a weekly list of trucks scheduled to stop at Marina Beach, visit marinadelrey.lacounty.gov or check the Department of

Beaches and Harbors’ Facebook page at Facebook.com/lacdbh and Twitter site at Twitter.com/lacdbh.  For phone inquiries, call the Marina del Rey Visitors Center at (310) 305-9545.

Rancho Los Amigos to Unveil New Paramobile Golf Chairs

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe will join Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center officials to unveil and host a demonstration of the hospital’s new Paramobile Golf Chairs. A golf clinic led by Supervisor Knabe and Paramobile Inventor Anthony Netto will be held for Rancho patients using the Paramobile Golf Chairs following the event.

The Paramobile, originally designed for disabled golfers, allows for the therapeutic benefits of golf for physically limited players. The Paramobiles will be a key element in establishing Rancho’s future golf clinic and will help improve the self-esteem and promote community reintegration for the hospital’s patients.

When:
Wednesday, July 18, 2012; 10:00 a.m.
Presentation of Paramobile Golf Chairs; 10:15 a.m.
Golf Clinic; 10:30 a.m.

Where:
Los Amigos Country Golf Club, Driving Range, 7295 Quill Drive, Downey, CA

Who: 
Don Knabe,Los Angeles County Supervisor
Jorge Orozco, CEO, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center
Anthony Netto, Inventor, Paramobile Golf Chair

Two Newborn Baby Girls Safely Surrendered This Week

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the fourth time this year, and the second time this week, with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby girl. This most recent safe surrender occurred on July 9, 2012 at a hospital in Lancaster.

A second newborn was also safely surrendered on July 9 at a hospital in Pomona. As is standard practice, the baby girls are in protective custody and will be placed with families approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

“Thanks to the Safe Surrender program, these baby girls have a second chance at life and hope for bright futures,” said Supervisor Knabe. “I’m thankful that these mothers decided to surrender their babies, rather than put them in a harmful situation. As word spreads about the Program, mothers in desperate situations can make the right choice for her baby, because of Safe Surrender.”

These are the third and fourth Safe Surrenders in Los Angeles County in 2012, and the 92nd and 93rd since the program began over ten years ago. The program was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2001. It allows someone to surrender an infant that is nomore than three days old, as long as the infant shows no signs of abuse.

Newborn Baby Girl Safely Surrendered in Pomona

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the third time this year with the report of a safely surrendered newborn. This most recent safe surrender occurred on July 9, 2012 at a hospital in Pomona.

The mother concealed her pregnancy and called ahead to the hospital to ask if she could surrender the infant. As is standard practice, the baby girl is in protective custody and will be placed with a family approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

“The Safe Surrender program was created to give a mother, no matter what the situation, a safe, secure and anonymous way to get her child into safe hands and to protect a baby from abandonment,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Thanks to the Safe Surrender program, this baby girl has a second chance at life and hope for a bright future.”

This is the third Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2012, and the 92nd since the program began over ten years ago. The program was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2001. It allows someone to surrender an infant that is no more than three days old, as long as the infant shows no signs of abuse.

Marina del Rey Free Summer Concerts Kick Off

The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors kicks off its series of weekly summer concerts, presented free to the public, at 7 p.m., Thursday, July 12, waterside in Marina del Rey’s Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way.  Thursday evening classical concerts feature world class artists appearing with the Marina del Rey Summer Symphony, conducted by its Musical Director Frank Fetta.  On alternate weeks, Saturday evening concerts bring to the Marina internationally famed artists from the worlds of pop and jazz.

This year’s Classical Thursdays begin on July 12 with a concert featuring the 75-member Marina del Rey Summer Symphony, conducted by Frank Fetta, along with finalists from the famed Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition for an evening of “Opera at the Shore.”

On July 26, the Orchestra performs music from Elgar, Walton, and Delilus as part of the theme of “Looking to England,” which will feature popular radio personality Rich Capparela of KUSC-FM 91.5 as the narrator in Benjamin Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.  Mr. Capparela also acts as the host of all four concerts in the classical concert series.

On Thursday, August 9, twin duo pianists Christina and Michelle Naughton will perform Poulenc’s Concerto in D minor for Two Pianos as they join the Orchestra’s program of “Remembering France,” which will also include Debussy and Ravel.

On Thursday, August 23, Maestro Fetta welcomes back Lindsay Deutsch to Burton Chace Park with her artful arrangement of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, as part of the Orchestra’s theme of “Russians There and Here,” which will also include Serge Rachmaninov and John Adams.

Pop Saturdays open July 21 with the co-headline show of two exciting female singer-songwriters with unique musical styles, acclaimed musicians Shelby Lynne and Lisa Loeb.

On August 1, six-time Grammy-award winning trumpeter, pianist and composer Arturo Sandoval performs original as well as standard jazz compositions in his signature style.

He will be followed on August 18 by the Grammy-nominated rock band Ambrosia, which will perform music and hits influenced by rhythm-and-blues and classical music.

The 2012 Marina del Rey Summer Concerts season closes on September 1 with disco and post-disco icon Evelyn “Champagne” King singing her best-known hits.

Sponsors of the Marina del Rey Summer Concerts are Supervisor Don Knabe, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors; the Department of Beaches and Harbors; The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey; and KUSC Classical FM 91.5.

Hornblower Café in Burton Chace Park is open for sunset dining on concert nights with chairs available for rent at the concert site for a minimal fee.

Concertgoers can take the WaterBus from six Marina locations directly to and from the concert site, or catch the land-based Beach Shuttle, which will operate with special hours to and from Burton Chace Park on concert nights.  Parking is available at County lot # 4 and # 77 on Mindanao Way or lot # 5 on Bali Way.

For additional information, call the Marina del Visitor’s Center at (310) 305-9545 or access the Beaches and Harbors website at http://marinadelrey.lacounty.gov or DBH social media sites Facebook.com/LACDBH and Twitter.com/LACDBH.

Free Summer Concerts This Summer in the Fourth District

Free concerts, ranging from Latin to R&B to American Roots, are taking place July through October in Fourth District communities.

The free performances are supported by the Fourth Supervisorial District, Don Knabe, Supervisor.

The schedule of free concerts listed below is also available online at www.lacountyarts.org. Click on “Free Concerts in Public Sites,” then “District 4.” These concerts are presented cooperatively with the L.A. County Arts Commission as part of the commission’s Free Concerts in Public Sites program.

Tuesday July10, 2012
Sgt. Pepper
6:30pm-8:30pm
Pop/Rock
Adventure Park
10130 S. Gunn Ave.
Whittier, CA 90605
Contact: Bryan Spragg
562-698-7645

Saturday July 14, 2012
Brasil, Brazil
1:00pm-3:00pm
Brazilian
Sorensen Public Library
6934 Broadway Ave
Whittier, CA 90606
Contact: Leticia Polizzi
562-695-3979

Monday July 23, 2012
Susie Hansen Band
7:00pm-8:30pm
Latin Jazz
Central Park
6532 Friends Ave.
Whittier, CA 90602
Contact: Greg Alaniz
562-567-9464

Thursday July 26, 2012
Cheap Chick
6:30pm-8:00pm
Pop/Rock
La Mirada Creek Park
12021 Santa Gertrudes Ave.
La Mirada CA 90638
Contact: Lisa Montoya
562-943-7277

Friday July 27, 2012
I See Hawks in LA
7:00pm-9:00pm
Americana/Roots
Heritage Park
12100 Mora Drive
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Contact: Mary Tavera
562-946-6476

Tuesday July 31, 2012
TBD
8:00pm-10:00pm
TBD
Cerritos College Quad
11110 Alondra Blvd.
Norwalk, CA 90650
Contact: Steve Richardson
562-467-5053

Saturday August 4, 2012
Braziliando
2:00pm-4:00pm
Brazilian Jazz
Artesia Public Library
18722 Clarkdale Ave.
Artesia, CA 90701
Contact: Barbara Nightingale
562-865-6614

Tuesday August 7, 2012
Along for the Ride
5:00pm-8:00pm
Latin/Jazz
Mayberry Park
13202 Meyer Rd.
Whittier, CA 90605
Contact: Bryan Spragg
562-944-9727

Wednesday August 8, 2012
The Hodads
7:00pm-9:00pm
Pop/Rock
Norwalk City Hall Lawn
12700 Norwalk Blvd.
Norwalk, CA 90650
Contact: April Batson
562-929-5763

Saturday August 25, 2012
I See Hawks in LA
12:00 PM-4:00 PM
Americana/Roots
Norwalk Senior Center
14040 San Antonio Drive
Norwalk, CA 90650
Contact: Elizabeth Rock
562-929-5677

Saturday September 15, 2012
The Undercover Girls
6:00pm-8:00pm
Pop/Rock
Pathfinder Park
18150E. Pathfinder Road
Rowland Heights, CA 91748
Contact: Timothy Tuyen
562-690-0933

Sunday October 7, 2012
Susie Hansen Band
1:00pm-3:00pm
Latin Jazz
Burton Chase Park
13650 Mindanao Way
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Contact: Catrina Love
310-305-9511

Artists who perform at Free Concerts in Public Sites are chosen by the concert presenters from the Arts Commission’s Musicians Roster featuring more than 180 L.A. County-based groups representing a range of musical styles. This online directory is accessible to the general public. Go to www.lacountyarts.org and click on “Musicians Roster.” The Roster is searchable by key word, name of artist, and by music style. Artists included are chosen by a panel of experienced and respected music professionals based on artistic excellence, cultural diversity and the ability to work cooperatively with other organizations as representatives of the Free Concerts program.

In addition to the free concerts, the Arts Commission also produces free participatory J.A.M. (Jazzed and Motivated) Sessions at six locations throughout L.A. County, including Mayberry Park in Whittier in the Fourth District. Complete schedules are available at www.fordjamsessions.org.